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Rheem - Need to replace my third X13 motor?

I turned on my system for the first time this season on Thursday 5/30. It ran fine (normal) until last night.
I noticed the condenser would kick on but it would take 2 or 3 minutes for the fan to come on at full speed. This morning it will not come up to full speed at all, it just runs at a constant, very slow speed.
I went up in the attic and did not hear any unusual noises (scraping, clunking). Checked the coils and they are not iced up.
It is running on X13 motor #3 right now. I believe I have a one year warranty on this replacement motor, expires June 18.

I just replaced the X13 motor last summer. Motor #2 just stopped working altogether. I had my HVAC guys get me the OEM replacement and I replaced it myself. I was careful to re-wire it exactly, position the belly band, do the drip loop, and position the connectors between 8 and 4. I ran like a champ for the rest of the season.

Motor #1 died the same as 2 in 2008. This was replaced by my HVAC guys on warranty.

My questions:

Is there something seriously wrong with this unit? I mean 3 motors in 5 years? Come on!

Could it be a bad circuit board, wrong wiring? Or are the X13 motors just a problem?

My HVAC guy is coming out Monday to check it. Is there anything I can ask him to look at specifically?

I shut the system down but it is freakin hot out. Should I just leave it off until it can be checked? Or let it run on that slow speed?

Is there a way to bypass the controls (temporarily) and get the fan to just run full speed until Monday? Or will that void the warranty or just be stupid?

These motor always die in the first few weeks after startup. Air handler is in the attic. Could this be condensation killing them?

Any help or information for me or my installer would be greatly appreciated.

Ask him to check the total external static pressure.
And don't run it with the fan in that condition.

"Hey Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort." And he says, "there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice. - Carl Spackler

Ask him to check the total external static pressure. And don't run it with the fan in that condition.

Originally Posted by BBuilder

I noticed the condenser would kick on but it would take 2 or 3 minutes for the fan to come on at full speed. This morning it will not come up to full speed at all, it just runs at a constant, very slow speed.

I think he was talking about the condenser motor.

__________________________________________________ _______________________“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards". -Vernon Law-

it sounds to me like it may not be the motors that r actually the problem ya they r probally damaged now but these motors are controlled by a module that mod tells them the rpm to run at for the proper temp or pressure i would say that the cause of the failure is in the motor control does it have a low ambient kit this can also damage these style motors

The X-13 is a fixed speed motor with different torque taps, but you usually don't have to mess with them, the factory sets them up according to the tonnage of the AH. low ambient kit? it's an indoor motor. Rheem did have some issues with water off the coils in the AH, I think they addressed it with a different motor, I bet ye old bald one might know.

__________________________________________________ _______________________“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards". -Vernon Law-

Ok let's try this. What's your ductwork like? Metal or flex? Trunk line or spider system? What the return air size & what type of filter do u run in the system!

This is a retrofit system (installed years after the house was built)

The supply trunk is hard duct (rectangular metal). The AH is installed at one end of the attic (closest to the condenser) and the supply trunk runs the length of the house along the floor of the attic. It steps down in size as feeds are taken off. The AH is installed perpendicular to the trunk line.

The branch lines are flex duct. Different sizes for different ceiling registers.

The return is a single 26 x 26 in the ceiling. The return air duct is flex duct, 20", and it snakes back to the AH over the supply trunk for about 20 feet. It does get pinched a bit where it squeezes between the AH and the rafters at one point.

I'm assuming you've been warrantying the motor from the Air Handlers warranty. If that's the case then you wouldn't have a year warranty on the motor but whatever the original warranty is on the air Handler, so you go by the original install date of the unit to find out when the motor warranty expires. Either way installing it yourself could lead to more problems than the money you're trying to save & can void your warranty if the manufacturer finds out.

I understand. But I have a long term relationship with my HVAC sub and this is my own house (figures!). Their service staff was flat out and they welcomed the help. And they know me and know I am only half a nit-wit, so everyone was comfortable with the arrangement. It really isn't much more difficult than replacing the starter in my truck.

I will soon find out about the warranty part, but when I picked up the replacement at the supply house I asked to confirm what I was told and they said yep: 1 year warranty on the new motor.